Honda has played down claims that its forthcoming Aston Martin Honda engine upgrade could deliver an additional 50bhp when it is introduced at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. Shintaro Orihara described the reported figure as a rumour, although both Honda and Aston Martin remain cautiously optimistic that the new power unit will address some of the performance limitations exposed during the first half of the season.
The engine is the second stage of Aston Martin’s wider recovery plan. The first arrives at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will receive an important package of chassis and aerodynamic upgrades for the AMR26B.
Aston Martin Honda engine upgrade targeted for Zandvoort
During the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, senior representatives from Honda and Aston Martin discussed the expected performance improvement from the new power unit that is scheduled to arrive approximately one month later at Zandvoort.
The revised engine has been developed to correct the power limitations demonstrated by Honda’s original 2026 unit. Several reports had suggested that the new specification produced at Honda’s Sakura headquarters could offer a gain approaching 50bhp, which would represent an enormous improvement over the current level of performance.
However, Honda Racing Corporation Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer Shintaro Orihara responded cautiously when asked whether an additional 50bhp was a realistic expectation.
“I would like to reach that figure, but it is quite a large number,” Shintaro Orihara said. “I cannot give any details about the power, but my impression is that it is only a rumour. I do not believe it is a real figure.”
Shintaro Orihara’s comments acknowledge Honda’s desire to make a major performance step while rejecting the suggestion that the gain will necessarily be as large as some reports have claimed. His response therefore maintains realistic expectations around the upgraded power unit rather than confirming a specific improvement.
Mike Krack confident both Aston Martin cars will receive full upgrade
Mike Krack also confirmed that Aston Martin had followed its main production plan for the Hungarian Grand Prix: preparing the complete new specification for both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
“I am confident, yes,” Mike Krack said. “That was the plan. We worked according to that plan and I am quite sure that everything will be ready. Both cars have the same specification.”
The spare chassis will remain in the previous specification because the team did not have enough production time to prepare a third example of the revised car. However, this has not caused significant concern within Aston Martin.
The Silverstone-based team’s stated objective is to “get back in the game” and begin competing more consistently after a difficult start to the 2026 campaign. Its progress can also be followed through the updated Formula 1 driver standings.
Hungary begins Aston Martin’s two-stage development plan
The Hungarian package represents the first part of Aston Martin’s major mid-season development programme. The AMR26B introduced at the Hungaroring features substantial changes to the car, while the upgraded Honda power unit is scheduled to form the second stage at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break.
The new engine is expected to make its competitive debut at Zandvoort, which is the next event on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar following the August shutdown.
Although the precise power improvement remains a matter of estimation, Honda and Aston Martin have conveyed moderate optimism about the development’s potential. The combination of the revised AMR26B and the new power unit is intended to revive Aston Martin’s season and give Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll a better opportunity to compete with the rest of the field.
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